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St. Patrick's day is almost here and the timing is perfect since i'm working on my Rainbows course!
This is prompting me to begin an alphabet list for St. Patrick's Day! This will be my first holiday list and my mind if over flowing with ideas! I'll be ready to celebrate early this year! Since moving to Baltimore and becoming acquainted with Irish Railroad Worker's Museum I've gained a new perspective on the holiday. The challenges of the Irish immigrant's frustrations in Ireland, journey to this country and injustices suffered working on the B & O Railroad were heartbreaking. Their tenacity, faith, work ethic, and commitment to community enabled them to over come and prosper. This year they are having an event for Grandparent's and their grandchildren, ages 5 - 10 years old), from 11;00 to 1:00 on St. Patrick's Day featuring arts and crafts, face painting, story telling, Irish music and dance. There will be an introduction to Irish instruments and light refreshments, with donations welcome. Visit their website for more information. Our Renaissance chorus is singing Look to the Rainbow from Finian's Rainbow in our spring concert. The words are just as meaningful now as they were when the song was first released.
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.Dr. Frederick Franck is an author, artist, and oral surgeon but even more notably, a spiritualist. He sees the sacred in the everyday beatify of life, and uses seeing and drawing as meditation. He worked with Dr. Albert Schweitzer in Africa to provide services to those in need.
Hiroshima - The Unkillable Human This sculpture depicts a man's silhouette flashing against a wall when the nuclear bomb was dripped. One of Dr. Frederick Franck's sculptures in the Peace Garden in Harrisburg, PA Frederick Franck has been on my mind recently for several reasons.First, we passed his sculptures at the Peace Garden in Harrisburg along the Susquehanna River several times when I visited Pennsylvania recently. I've painted his sculptures numerous times over the years - with vibrant spring and summer floral plantings, the earth tones of autumn, and stark black, grays and whites of winter. All were given as gifts over the years, but the photos above will give you an idea of the power of his work, The Peace Garden was created in 1990 by the Harrisburg/Hershey chapter of the Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR). The garden was created in response to a speech given in Hiroshima by Dr. Bernard Lown, President of the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War, which earned a Nobel Peace Prize. The garden features three sculptures that remind us of the devastating destruction, yet also acknowledge the continuation of life and the human spirit in spite of inhumane decisions. Second, I'm including several of his quotes in my overview of my course on Exploring Rainbows this spring. He makes a differential between looking and seeing, and notes that we would fall to our knees in horror if we really saw what was on the evening news. We have become desensitized, but that's another post. "Merely looking at the world around us is |
Insights From a Child
Their are endless opportunities to learn and enjoy for all ages as evidenced by this young person's observation in a "What have you discovered?" journal encouraging comments.
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When people are born they are gentle and soft.
At death they are hard and stiff.
When plants are alive they are soft and delicate.
When they die, they wither and dry up.
Therefore the hard and stiff are followers of death.
The gentle and soft are the followers of life.
Thus, if you are aggressive and stiff, you can't win.
When a tree is hard enough, it is cut. Therefore
The hard and big are lesser,
The gentle and soft are greater.
- Yi-Ping Ong, from the introduction, Tao Te Ching
At death they are hard and stiff.
When plants are alive they are soft and delicate.
When they die, they wither and dry up.
Therefore the hard and stiff are followers of death.
The gentle and soft are the followers of life.
Thus, if you are aggressive and stiff, you can't win.
When a tree is hard enough, it is cut. Therefore
The hard and big are lesser,
The gentle and soft are greater.
- Yi-Ping Ong, from the introduction, Tao Te Ching
Yesterday was the last day of our Infinite Possibilities course and one of the participants shared this tea towel her mother gave her!
Aww! Reaction to today's treasure from a friend on Facebook -
"How do you do it MW? The truly amazing part is how you make me feel positive as soon I notice your posts. That is a very special gift. TY for being you. God Bless!"
I'll be smiling all day! See! There's been a miracle already!
Guiding people to action is an interesting process. Many wait for their muse, a force often personified as a woman, who provides inspiration for painters, sculptors, writers, composers and other creative artists. When the right 'feeling' comes, the person will be motivated and ideas will flow.
In his book "Mini-Habits, Smaller Habits, Bigger Results", Sephen Guise notes that motivation is unreliable as it is based on feelings. We place the responsibility on external factors and shift the responsibility outside of our control.
Willpower places the responsibility and control on the individual. It can be scheduled, written on a calendar and completed. It can be strengthened, like a muscle. Conversely, intention without action can harm self confidence.
The clients I coach who make what I call "Quantum Leap Progress' seem to know this intuitively. They take the responsibility to schedule, complete and move forward with enthusiasm. We process and discuss alternatives, but they move to action using willpower.
Studies indicate when goals are hand written we are much more likely to follow through than when typed. Actually writing intentions on a calendar and following through at a designated time further enforces out commitment to make changes.
The beginning of autumn is a perfect time to revisit our "True North Values", consider and hand write our goals and intentions, schedule them on our calendars and commit them to action! With each small step we complete, we will strengthen our will power and become more successful in all of our endeavors!
In his book "Mini-Habits, Smaller Habits, Bigger Results", Sephen Guise notes that motivation is unreliable as it is based on feelings. We place the responsibility on external factors and shift the responsibility outside of our control.
Willpower places the responsibility and control on the individual. It can be scheduled, written on a calendar and completed. It can be strengthened, like a muscle. Conversely, intention without action can harm self confidence.
The clients I coach who make what I call "Quantum Leap Progress' seem to know this intuitively. They take the responsibility to schedule, complete and move forward with enthusiasm. We process and discuss alternatives, but they move to action using willpower.
Studies indicate when goals are hand written we are much more likely to follow through than when typed. Actually writing intentions on a calendar and following through at a designated time further enforces out commitment to make changes.
The beginning of autumn is a perfect time to revisit our "True North Values", consider and hand write our goals and intentions, schedule them on our calendars and commit them to action! With each small step we complete, we will strengthen our will power and become more successful in all of our endeavors!
Welcome!! I’m Mikell (pronounced Michael). If you love spicing up your life with herbs, recipes, decorating and crafts, symbolism and rituals like I do, I hope you’ll sign up for my newsletter and free Enhancing Your Life with Herbs e-book!
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Mikell
Mikell is a writer, artist and professional treasure hunter, finding the greatest treasures in the wonderful people who enter her life!
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